politics

Steamed Rice: Dump Trump

Five Towns rep says it’s time to impeach the prez

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See also: Rice backs Israel and shul security, rips anti-Semitism, in Shabbos talk at Beth Sholom

Rep. Kathleen Rice, whose district includes the Orthodox Jewish communities of the Five Towns, is calling for the opening of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

Rice tweeted:

“For over two years the President has systematically dismantled our democracy and defied the rule of law. This cannot stand. Congress has a moral obligation to put our politics aside and take action. We need to start impeachment proceedings. The President is not above the law.”

After Special Counsel Mueller failed to exonerate Trump, Rice said on Twitter that Mueller’s “hands were tied. But ours are not. Congress has full authority to hold the President accountable, and it’s past time that we exercise it.”

The New York Times reported on Monday that 56 House Democrats supported opening an impeachment inquiry, 59 either did not support it or were undecided, and 120 had not responded to the Times’ question.

In a letter to a constituent, Rice explained that Mueller’s report showed that “Trump’s actions were not just divisive, reckless and morally reprehensible, they were also potentially illegal. … Mr. Mueller also made it clear that it was a long-standing Department of Justice policy — and not a lack of evidence — that prevented him from charging the president with a crime.”

While Rice may differ with many of her Five Towns constituents on impeachment, she sought this week to emphaize her pro-Israel bona fides, speaking on Shabbos at Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence. A spokesman added that Rice supported Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

See also (from last week's Jewish Star): Where Jewish reps stand on impeaching Trump